Latching and seal receiving structure



May 26, 1931 D. T. WADSWORTH 6 'LATCHING AND SEAL RECEIVING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 13. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 as 36 /1Jawd'f. Mdsworfh 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmmtoz DavidTMdsworfb D. T. WADSWORTH Filed Jan. 13; 1927 LATCHING AND SEAL RECEIVING STRUCTURE May 26, 1931.

Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DAVID T. WADSWORTH, OF GOLD SPRINGS, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WADSWORTI-I ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF COVINGTON,

TION OI KENTUCKY LATCHING AND SEAL REGEIVIN G STRUCTURE Application filed January 13, 1927'. Serial No. 160,991.

This invention relates to a latching and seal receiving structure for use in securing cover members to cabinets and the like which are also to be sealed against unauthorized opening.

' Another object is to provide a latching and seal receiving structure which serves to relieve a seal of such strains and stresses as may be applied to the inner face of a cabinet cover.

Another object is to provide a switch box structure embodying the latching and seal receiving structure of my invention wherein the latching element co-operates with a switch operating interlock mechanism for roviding a simple and eflicient safety switch box.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a safety box having embodied therein the latching and seal receiving element of the invention and showing also the interlock mechanism of the invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2- -2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental side elevational view of the device in latched position, parts being broken away.

The device of the invention is herein embodied in a switch box having side walls 5 and 6 and a hingedly mounted cover 7. he cover 7 is provided with side flanges 8 and 9 and top and bottom flanges 10 which receive between them the forward edges 11 of the side walls 5 and 6 and the top and bottom walls of the cabinet. The side flange 9 is hingedly mounted to the side wall 6 of the box or cabinet. Upper and lower hinges such as 12 (see Fig. 2) are employed and they comprise sheet metal members somewhat like cotter pins with a loop passing through the flange 9 and the lugs thereof spread on the inside of the cabinet after passing through the wall 6. The opposed flange 8 has an integral lug 13 struck from the body thereof and the end portion of the lug 13 is disposed in parallel offset relation to the outer face of the flange 8 for providing a seat 14 into which latch member 15 may be re ceived. The latch member 15' comprises a body portion pivotally mounted as at 16 to the sidewall 5 of the cabinet and is offset as at 17 for a distance equal 'to the thickness of the flange 8. This relation of parts permits the latch member 15 to be moved downwardly about its pivotal mounting and to seat in the way 14 between the inner face of lug 13 and the outer face of flange 8. The latch member is provided intermediate its ends with a hook 18 having an arcuately disposed face 19 which rides over the forward edge 20 of that portion of lug 13 which extends outwardly from the flange 8. From the foregoing it will be apparent that as soon as any portion of the hook '18 of latch 15 passes over the forward edge 20 of lug 13, it will be impossible to open the cover 7. When the hook 18 is seated in the way 1 1, the edge 21 of latch 15 will rest in the bo tom of;the way 14 against the lower portion of lug 13 and face 19 of'the hook portion 18 will be in abutment of the forward edge20 of lug 13. At this'time a seal receiving perforation 22 on the free end of latch 15 will coincide with perforation 23 of flange 24 which is secured to the cover 7 and has one face 25 in substantial alignment with the outer face of flange 8; The flange 24 may be formed of a right angle member rigidly secured to the front face of cover 7 by any suitable means such as spot welding, rivets or the like. From the fore going it will be apparent that when the latch 15 is in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 3, a suitable seal 25 may have its strap or wire member passed through the perforations 22 and 23 in the latch and flange members so that it will beimpossible to move the latch member 15 about its pivotal mounting sufiiciently to'remove thehook 19 from lug 14, without breaking the seal 25. It will also be apparent that any force tending to open the cover 7 will be directed against the rigid latch structure, so that there is-no danger of exerting any shearing actionon the wire or strap portion of the seal 25.

In the herein described switch box there is provided an interlock mechanism which pre- KENTUCKY, A CQRPORA- cludes access to the interior of the fuse compartment 26 when the switch operating arm is in the on position. A switch crank comprising a handle lever 27 and a switch rod 28 is pivotally mounted in the side walls 5 and 6 'as ShOWlY in- Flg. 2. The switch rod 28 has an offset portion 29 which'assumes a position adjacent the inner face of the'coverj" when?the switclri's moved tothe on? post tipni'throngh theagencysoffswitch E lever 27. hen the lever 27 is moved to throw the switch to the off position, the offset portion 29 in the switch' rod assumes a es-um further removed from the inner face of the cover 7. The cover Thase fuseopening30 which is controlled by ashutter 31w slidably mounted on the interior face ofthe cover 7 by ineansof flanges 32', A rib 33 proJects rearwardl-y of the shutter 31 and is secured thereto by means of abracket 34c which over hangs one of! therflanges 32- which retains the shutter in position. A knob 35 PI'OVIdGS a convenient means for slidably actuating the shutter 3l and when said shutter is in the open position asshown in Fig; 1, theknob 35 moves'into vertical slot 36in the; cover'7.

As will be readily noted in Fig. 1, the rib 33 assu mes' a position in'the path of movement of 'the of'fset portion 29-of the switch rod when: the? shutter 81. is in itslowered or opened position. Assumingthat the latch 15 isin c l-osed po'sit-ion' (as shown in- Fig-3) an attempt to move the arm 2? upwardly for closing the switch (:not shown) will result in moving the ofl'set portion 29 intoabutment with the-edge 87 of rib 33 thereby precludingclos ingot the" switch Force exerted upon'the switch level-"27 will be dir'ectechthrori-gh offset 29 and rib 3-3 to door and: is'r'es'isted' by the hook portion of the latch mem b e-rfso that there isno possibility of everrpartia'l opening of the cover and: therefore no strain can be exerted upon-the seal'25.

When it is-desired to close theswitch, the shutter 31 mn'st-firstb'e raised in order toremove the rib'B3 from the path of theoffs'e't 29. in the switch rod. The-lever 27 may then be raised' for closing the switclr and when-in its fully closed position abuts the bottom eel-go 38 ofth'e rib 33. From' this it will be app'arentthat if an attempt is made to open the "shutter 31' :witlrout first opening the switch; theend 3801? the rib 33 will automatically opelrthe' switch by forcing the off normal path in opening. the switch. For this reason' it impossi hle to have access to the fuses while-the switch-is the on positi'on'.-

The latch structure "not only serves to pre vent accidentalshiearingof the seal, but also 1. A latch for securing an angularly flanged cover to a side wall received thereby comprising a latch body adapted for pivotal mounting on the exterior facing of the side wall and having an arcuate edged lu mov able therewith: substantially beyon'dthe face of the cover, the cover flange having an outwardlystruck lug providing an open topped way forentry ofathe' l'atch -member and? the lug. presentin'gzan ed ge' cooperatingfwith the arcuate edge of the lug onrthe latch member.

2. A latch and seal receiving structure for a cabin'ethaving side wall and a movable angularly flanged cover, the flange embracingthe sidewall and having an outwardly struck transverse lug, said structure comprising a latch 'pivotally mounted on the side wall and movable for entry' into the space between said lugand the cover flange and extending beyond the face of the cover, the

free end of the-latch being, perforate, :the cover having a member perforated to coincide with the perforation of thelatch, and: an

a-rcuate, edged hook disposed in a plane with the latch member and movable therewith for engagement of the arcuate edgewithan edge on the flange lug.= v

31 In a latching and seal receiving structure for a cabinet having a side wall and-cover adapted to abut the edgeof the side wallythe cover having a flange provided withfa lu-g, said structure comprising a member witha terminally offset portion for pivotal mounting on the side wall,. saidmember having, a

laterally extending-offset hook with an arcuateedge concentric Wltl1-l1l18-PlVOi3fil mounting and co-operatin-g with the lug on the flange toretain the cover in closed position during a predetermined pivotal movement of the member, said member havingin-itsfrlae 3 DAVID 'r. WADSWORTH;--

co-operateswit'h: the switch crank and fuse shutter in providing a simpleand eflicien't safety nterlock mechanism for T switchesi What...is cla1med is-: i

fer, 

